A fatal courthouse shooting in Kentucky on Thursday has left the community in shock. Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines is facing murder charges after shooting Judge Kevin Mullins in his courthouse chambers. According to police, the two were involved in an argument before the shooting occurred.
Officers responded to a 911 call about shots fired at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, where they found Mullins, 54, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and the judge was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart provided details of the arrest, noting that Sheriff Stines, 43, surrendered immediately after the shooting and was cooperative. Stines has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held in a local jail.
“This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Gayheart said, reflecting the impact of the incident on the town. He assured the public that there was no ongoing threat and that police are working to understand the cause of the deadly argument.
Gov. Andy Beshear (D) expressed his sorrow over the event, calling for an end to violence, while Attorney General Russell Coleman promised a full investigation in collaboration with local prosecutors.
Mullins had been serving as a judge in the 47th Judicial District since 2010 and had recently been named to a state judicial commission on mental health. Sheriff Stines, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, remains in custody as investigators continue to gather details about the incident.
